Ten Reasons The Pirates Left Their Fans Wanting More–PhotoShop Edition

The Pittsburgh Pirates 2010 season is over.  It couldn’t come fast enough for most Pirates fans, but instead of ending on a high note, it left most Pirates fans curious.  Wanting more.   Obviously we wanted a few more wins, but then again….why finish .500 now right?

There is still serious building to do.  Here are ten or so things that encouraged this Pirates fan as the season closed…

The most important thing is this…I feel better about this team than I did at the end of last season.  Can’t explain why.  I just do.

How Long Could ‘The Young Dogs’ Keep  Hitting?

The Pirates young core seemed like it could continue to hit until Christmas.  It was really encouraging to watch those guys thrive instead of fade down the stretch.  Each of the Pirates young players went out with a bang. Somebody once said, always leave them wanting more. The Pirates did that in a big way.  The young dogs will sell some tickets this year.

Sooner or Later Road Wins Will Come.  Right?  Just nod your head.  What was with all the road losses?  17 victories on the road in 2010 begs to change things.  We have an idea. 

We watched every road game intently for the past three months.  Tivo.  Replay.  Review.  Sometimes twice.  Here is my conclusion.  The team was entirely different.

In the last series of the year it was evident again.  Sure it makes sense some of the girls would go along on the Florida trip, but in 2011 is it too much to ask to leave them at home?  The Pirates have to get winning figured out before distractions should be brought along.

It sucks the season had to end on the road.  The Bucs will never be confused for Animal and Hawk.  The road was far from their friend in 2010.  But all the while the Bucs kept me watching, waiting, but the wins never came.  If they had, this season would have been much, much different.

Wrigley was friendly to the Bucs and remember on April 1, 2011 the Pirates will open the season in Chicago.  A fast start will be crucial.  Ok, I am going to layoff the analysis for 2011 already.

Surprises.   They were evident at many levels. Each of them spread throughout the season.  From Iwamura to Walbeck, Tabata to Alvarez.  It was a wild ride.  The minors showed upside everywhere except Indianapolis.  But if the Pirates are guilty of one thing, it’s making the fans scratch their head.  (Sort of like spelling the word sensation wrong in the Mortondini Photoshop.)

But I don’t believe the Pirates are purposely making the fans scratch their head as a strategy.  They actually feel strongly about their plan.  Some of the moves the team has made will certainly keep me interested this offseason.

The Dead Mans Hand.  What a fun draft day.   Very soon we will start to see those two studs on the pitching mound. 

Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek.  Pure.  Joy.

Change is coming.  Neal Huntington said today on his radio show, the team has some difficult decisions to make this week.   We didn’t like the Walbeck decision.  Huntington said the ballclub could have waited until a quieter time, and could have avoided bad PR as a result, in firing AA Manager of the Year Matt Walbeck, but, “we do what we do.” 

Yes, the Pirates certainly did that this season.

Losing seems to be contagious the past 18 years, but never was it bad enough for #1.  All that changed in 2010.  The season of 105 losses sealed the number one pick in the 2011 draft.  Yet another reason to love the disgusting season.  It was filled with awful pitching.  Hideous, scream at the television, defense.   A lousy early season lineup that was filled with non-existent offense that was blown out repeatedly. 

Hell, what else is there to talk about?  Cue the music.

The Opener Always Hooks Me.

For some reason, I can’t get that opener out of my mind.  What a mindfreak it was.

Surely this is as bad as it’s going to get.  Right?   Right?

Seriously.  It can’t be worse.  Not.  Possible.

The Pirates Are Hiring This Offseason.

The Bucs cleaned house by firing just about every coach or manager except the one that seemed the most obvious to fans.

The Pirates will have cash to invest.    And that is a good thing.   GM Neal Huntigton seriously downplayed free agent splashes this offseason, let’s trust he has something up his sleeve to provide some pitching depth.  Some defense.  And some clutch hitting.  That’s a serious Christmas list.

You made RumBunter the top dog.  But it’s far from over for us.  We have some great ideas we are working on in the next few weeks.  So keep visiting, especially after Halloween.  We have some big plans in store in the offseason. 

Thank you for making RumBunter the number one MLB site on the FanSided network.  Yeh, it’s crazy to think the worst team in the league has the most die hard fans.  Or maybe we are just the biggest slackers? 

But seriously, everyone at RumBunter really appreciates each of you.  Your time is valuable and we admire everyone who takes the time to check out our thoughts and insight.   As always, if there is anything you want to see, please advise, we are here for you.